While M5 Hosting offers nine Linux distributions on our Linux dedicated servers, Ubuntu is the Linux distribution we think is an excellent choice for startups and for those who want to scale up quickly. With many reasons that make this true, here is a list of the most significant advantages to choosing or moving to an Ubuntu dedicated server.
Key Benefits of Ubuntu Dedicated Server Hosting
- Cost-Effectiveness: Avoid hefty licensing fees and reduce operational expenses with Ubuntu’s open-source model.
- Easy Scalability: Seamlessly increase resources to handle larger workloads, backed by advanced kernel optimizations and multi-core processing support.
- Robust Security: Rapid vulnerability patching, long-term support (LTS) releases, and built-in tools like AppArmor, UFW, and SELinux to protect against emerging threats.
- DevOps & Automation-Friendly: Supports Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, Chef, Puppet, and more for streamlined deployments.
- High Performance: GUI-free operation, Profile-Guided Optimization, and dynamic hardware detection maximize CPU utilization for resource-intensive tasks.
- Extensive Community Support: Comprehensive documentation, user forums, and Canonical-backed resources reduce maintenance overhead and reliance on large IT teams.
Ubuntu is an Open-Source Operating System
Ubuntu, created by Canonical, is an open-source distribution for Linux. One of its benefits is it does not come with any licensing costs, which means the operating system itself is free. When compared to Windows Server 2025, the latest version from Microsoft starts at $1,176 just for the license to run the operating system. Organizations wanting to save money on startup costs, or businesses that want to scale up, can quickly realize the cost savings. For example, OneUptime reduced its cloud costs by 76% by migrating to Ubuntu-powered bare metal infrastructure, all by avoiding licensing fees and cloud overhead.
What is an Ubuntu Dedicated Server?
A dedicated server is hardware exclusive to your organization, which means any data or applications you install on your dedicated server are not shared with any other M5 Hosting clients. Your dedicated server is 100% customizable in terms of configuration specifications, hardware and software, and can be upgraded at any time. With Ubuntu installed on your Linux dedicated server, you have even more flexibility, customization options, and extended support through comprehensive Ubuntu documentation and M5 Hosting support representatives.
Why Flexibility Matters for Startups and Scale-Ups
Some of the challenges startups face are limited budgets, uncertainty in resource needs, and rapid scaling demands. As a startup it’s important to stay lean, but even more important is having the ability, or option, to scale up quickly with the support of an adaptable infrastructure. One of Ubuntu’s advantages is its versatile ecosystem as it supports small applications and large-scale deployments, from running a simple website to managing complex microservices architectures.
Ubuntu also seamlessly integrates with popular cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, enabling startups to migrate or extend their operations to the cloud as they scale. Depending on your startup’s needs, Ubuntu has built-in support for multi-core processing, virtualization using KVM and QEMU, and container technologies like Docker and Kubernetes allow startups to build scalable, portable applications.
Why Ubuntu Dedicated Server Hosting is Ideal for Startups Scaling Up
Startups start small and aim to scale to enterprise-level organizations. To help startups scale quickly, Ubuntu dedicated servers provide the flexibility to start with minimal configurations and scale up with more powerful hardware or distributed systems as the startup grows. And for a global reach, Ubuntu’s support in cloud and hybrid environments allows startups to extend their infrastructure globally.
Speed to market is also important to startups. Ubuntu’s Advanced Package Tool (APT) allows for easy installation and management of software packages which simplifies server administration and package management. This way, startups can install only the packages they need to build a lean system tailored to specific workloads. LogicMonitor notes that Linux (including Ubuntu) can scale across multiple systems and is capable of handling large amounts of data and traffic.
If you’re scaling your startup or business, an Ubuntu dedicated server supports higher workloads without requiring a major infrastructure change. This is done by using Ubuntu’s Profile-Guided Optimization (PGO) and tailored kernel configurations that allow dedicated servers to run more efficiently by making full use of modern processor capabilities.
Ubuntu also features dynamic hardware feature detection which means Ubuntu can leverage processor-specific optimizations, reducing bottlenecks and improving overall execution speed on dedicated servers. As a result, Ubuntu maximizes CPU performance for faster computation, lower latency, and better task execution.
Startups adopting DevOps practices can leverage tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, and Ansible, which are fully supported and easy to set up on Ubuntu. Additionally, Ubuntu integrates with automation tools (Chef, Puppet, etc.), allowing startups to automate tasks and scale operations.
Because Ubuntu does not require a graphical interface (GUI), more system resources are available for your applications. This can be a significant advantage for high-traffic databases, AI/ML workloads, or other resource-intensive tasks.
Ubuntu Security and Support on Dedicated Servers
Ubuntu’s long-term support (LTS) releases are supported for up to 10 years (with Extended Security Maintenance), providing a reliable foundation for startups to grow without disruptions. Community-driven support and documentation are available to help fine-tune Ubuntu. For startups new to Linux, Ubuntu offers a relatively gentle learning curve compared to other distributions. Tools like AppArmor and Uncomplicated Firewall (UFW), are installed by default on Ubuntu servers, and some users install SELinux to help protect Ubuntu dedicated servers against cyber threats. These tools are ideal for startups handling sensitive customer or financial data.
Ubuntu offers a variety of authentication methods such as LDAP and Kerberos for more control over securing your Ubuntu dedicated server environment. Since Ubuntu is open-source, security vulnerabilities are identified and patched quickly by both Canonical and the Ubuntu community. With community support and regular updates that help reduce long-term maintenance overhead, startups can thrive without a large IT team.
Make the Switch to Ubuntu: Steps to Get Started
At M5 Hosting we’ve made it easy to get started with an Ubuntu dedicated server. We take the hassle out of configuring an operating system and deciding which hardware components are needed. With M5 Hosting’s easy-to-use configuration tool, choose Ubuntu as the operating system and we’ll provide options for dedicated servers optimized to run Ubuntu. And with root access to your machine, you can configure as much or as little as you need for your organization and goals. Read more on M5 Hosting’s Ubuntu dedicated server hosting.
